Improvement in darning-lasts



' ELIZABETH G. H AR LEY.

Darning-Lasts.

I No.156,702.

Patented Nov. 10,1874.

fnvenlor;

4 FFICE.

ELIZABETH G. HARLEY, OF HADDONFIELD, NEW JERSEY.

IMPROVEMENT IN DARNlNG-LASTS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 156,702, dated November 10, 1874; application filed September 17, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELIZABETH G. HAR- LEY, of Haddonfield, in the county of Gamden and State of New Jersey, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Darning Apparatus, of which the following is a specification The object of my invention is to provide a simple and convenient device for use in the operation of darning, em broidering, or the like,

which shall embody in its construction means for supporting the material worked upon, and receptacles for the thread and needles; to which end my improvement consists in combining, with a hollow stretcher having a concave surface for holding the work, and a receptacle for containing a ball of thread, a hollow handle, which serves as a needlereceptacle, all as hereinafter fully set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a view, in elevation, of a darning apparatus embodying my improvements; and Fig. 2, a longitudinal central section of the same.

To carry out the objects of my invention, I provide a stretcher, A, which is a hollow box, of spherical or spheroidal form, truncated at bottom, and recessed so as to provide a concave surface,A, over which the material to be darned is stretched. The stretcher A has an opening, G, at top, for the insertion of the ball of thread, and a small hole,l]3, on the side,

through which the thread is led out. The

opening 0 of the stretcher is closed by the extremity of the hollow handle F, in which is formed a needle-receptacle, D, closed by a plug, E.

The instrument so constructed is a useful adjunct in darning and embroidery. The concave surface formed upon the end of the stretcher enables the material to be held thereon as tightly as may be desired, while giving ample room for the movements of the needle, and the thread and needle receptacles in the stretcher and its handle are conveniently located for the operator.

I am aware that hollow oval darnin g implements having cavities for the receptionof needles and thread have been heretofore known, and do not, therefore, broadly claim such device.

I claim as my invention- The within-described darning implement, consisting of the hollow thread-hol ding stretcher A,having a concave surface, A, formed upon it, in combination with a handle, I, which closes the stretcher, and contains a needle-receptacle, D, substantially as set forth.

ELIZABETH Gr. HARLEY.

Witnesses:

J. SNowDEN BELL, MARY B. HARLEY. 

